Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"The Revolutionary Army."

The words left Korka's mouth and instantly my back straightened as every muscle in my body tensed. My eyes briefly darted behind him back to 'Bill' and watched as the bartender sliced a lime into eighths, seemingly haven gone back to his own business.

'Maybe...maybe he didn't hear?'

Oh who am I kidding? The man's a member of Cipher Pol. He definitely heard...probably...maybe... Fuck. There's no way to know for sure.

Korka seems to pick up on my discomfort -though not it's source-, and gestures towards an empty booth a little ways away. "How about we go talk in private?" he suggests with a friendly smile.

I manage to shake off my stupor enough to nod but the vocal agreement gets stuck in my throat.

"Excellent! This way then," The man speaks as he snatches two glasses and a bottle from the counter and heads off into the corner.

My feet are following a few paces behind him but my mind is still whirling with questions. Why would a CP5 agent be talking to a revolutionary? Did he even know? If he didn't know or perchance still doesn't, would he even care? Bill wasn't exactly a 'by-the-books' kind of guy seeing as how he's selling info in the first place.

'Ugh. I'm just going to argue myself into a circle at this rate.' I realize with a tiny scowl. 'First things first.' I think as I focus in on the back of the man ahead of me.

I need to know exactly who I'm dealing with. I refuse to be blindsided again like I was with Jorgen. In fact, lets make it a rule. 'New Survival rule #1: Always use [Observe] on anyone offering you a job.'

Korka, Supply Officer, Lv. 33

Korka is a member of the Revolutionary Army in South Blue as well as the user of the Bird-Bird Fruit Model: Ostrich. He joined the Revolutionary Army seven years ago in a desire to end the cruelty of the corrupt nobles who plague his homeland. Although he is decently strong, Korka doesn't particularly care for fighting and has settled into a role that keeps him far away from the front lines.

Health: 750/750

STR: 82

VIT: 75

DEX: 112

INT: 89

WIS: 56

LUK: 7

I read over the description a second time and felt myself relax slightly. 'Alright. Nothing immediately jumps out as suspicious but I should still tread carefully.' This guy may pack less of a punch than some of the people I've encountered, but that DEX score combined with his possession of the Ostrich Fruit means he could probably run circles around me.

Those birds could run..what? 40 miles per hour back on earth? Higher? And that's before operating on cartoon physics.

"You know..." I begin to whisper as we walk. "It's not usually the best idea to just up and tell people you work with the Revolutionaries. Aren't you afraid I might go alert someone?"

Korka smiles back at me knowingly. "I doubt anyone in this town would be able to catch me. I can be...pretty quick...when I want to be."

He probably thinks he's being cheeky right now, throwing out a teaser like that. Little does he know that my own reality breaking powers have already informed me about his. 'And might I say, mine are sooo much cooler.'

The two of us settle into the dark corner booth and Korka steeples his hands together, apparently waiting for me to start the conversation.

I drum my fingers across the table wondering how best to begin. "I'm not exactly opposed to the job," I finally blurt out before the silence becomes awkward. "Nor do I have any problems with...your people...or what you all are trying to accomplish. But I'm going to need a lot more details."

The revolutionary nods his head amicably with a small grin. "Of course. Have you been following the news about the war currently being fought in Centaurea?"

My eyes tilted upward as I tried to think. I'd seen the country listed on the maps of South Blue I'd studied but I wasn't aware of any major incident going on. I thought I saw it's name on a headline the other day but I didn't actually read the article. "Let's say that I'm a little behind on current events."

Whatever Korka thought of my answer, it didn't reach his face. "I'll spare you the grimy details. but the short of it is that we're winning. Just... not as quick as we'd like. Wars are costly and supply lines need to be maintained. When pirates raid one of our ships It can hurt us pretty bad. That's why I'm currently out hiring some extra help."

"Not to be rude but isn't your...I'm going to say 'organization'... full of heavy hitters on its own?" I had to ask. "What could you possibly need bounty hunters for?"

Korka lets loose a tired sigh and casts his eyes to the side. "Our organization operates globally so we're always spread a bit thin. Our best personnel in South Blue are either preoccupied with keeping the Marines off our back or they're actually on the front lines in Centaurea. Plus there's been a...setback..in West Blue and we've had to divert some of our resources in that direction. We've got plenty of funding, just not manpower."

I leaned back in my seat and raised my brow skeptically. "If manpower is all you need you could take that 2,500,000 and hire a dozen men to do the job. Probably more. I still don't see why you're offering it to me."

Korka snorted as though I had just said something particularly dumb and leaned back himself, mirroring my posture. "Sure, for 2 million I could hire 10 men, 20 men, maybe 25. Wouldn't even have to leave the room to do it." The officer spoke, swinging a hand out to gesture at the miscreants spread throughout the tavern. "But they'd be of poor quality. Totally helpless against any actual threat. Pretend for a moment that you're me and it's your ship you need to hire protection for. Your choice is between either a few dozen pieces of fodder OR three to five truly competent individuals. Which door do you choose?"

Now it was my turn to nod. "I guess I see your point. You still haven't answered my question though. Why me? I'm not famous. I'm small-time. I've only captured one bounty that's even really worth mentioning."

Korka looks at me slyly. "Town rumors say you took down a corrupt Marine officer."

"Rumors can be false." I rebutted. They weren't in this case. But y'know. He can't know that for sure. "Come on. Just hit me with the real reason."

Korka huffed in irritation and gave me a level look. "Fine. You want the truth? I'm scrambling to find a last minute replacement and you're the only one around that I can see. If you turn me down I'm going to have to go with the cannon fodder route whether I like it or not. The last of my ships needs to set sail tomorrow morning and that deadline absolutely cannot change."

"Ships?" I questioned. "As in plural?"

"Three ships. Three teams. The first two left yesterday night but the last one, The Marjhan, still feels...just a bit too vulnerable. Even with me traveling on it." Korka paused for a moment as a fierce scowl developed across his face. "I was supposed to rendezvous with this pair, -a brother-sister duo- here in Yeutton and negotiate with them to be the final team members."

Korka poured himself a drink and stared at the auburn liquid. "The two of them weren't super impressive but they had been pulling in bounties ranging from one to five million pretty consistently over the past couple years and consistency has to count for something. I really thought they'd be a nice finishing touch on the group I had gathered but unfortunately they decided to blow me off last minute."

"What happened?"

Korka shrugged and then drained his glass in a single swallow. "The oddest thing really. Two days ago they called me up, claimed they'd gotten a better offer, that from now on their names are 'Mr. 12 and Miss Saturday', and that I shouldn't contact them again. Then the pricks just hung up on me." Korka takes another pause to refill his drink and pours myself one as well. "What the hell do you suppose that's about?"

"No idea..." I lied, bringing my own glass up just for a sip. "So...backing up a moment, you said three to five individuals? Not counting yourself, who would I be working with?"

"Tell you what." Korka announced as he rose to his feet. "Why don't you meet me at dock #6, nine o'clock tomorrow morning and come meet them yourself? I'll even give you 20% of your pay up front."

The Revolutionary extends his hand towards me and adopts the same smile he used back at the beginning of our conversation. "Deal?"

A few seconds pass as I wait for the familiar 'Ding!' of a new quest to appear but oddly enough it never does. Whether that's a good omen or a grave sign I can't be sure.

Regardless though I find my hand reaching upwards to clasp with his.

"Deal."

I watch the man leave and after a minute or two make my way towards the bar one last time where Bill seems to be preoccupied rearranging the colored bottles on the backwall display. I knock on the wood twice to get his attention and drop 15,000 on the bar. "Everyone's drinks are on me tonight. Thanks for all your help these past couple weeks. Best of luck to ya Bill."

I make it all of three steps away before-

"Jack."

It was just my name. Nothing should have been ominous about it. And yet hearing 'Bill' call after me froze me in place as a nervous chill slithered down my spine.

"Yes?" I ask, turning my head.

Bill's eyes are hard. Stony. Unamused. "I once told you that I don't pick sides. So long as they pay, my service is open to all. No matter where they come from, where they're going, or who they're looking for." The barkeep paused for a moment as his eyes shifted from 'hard' to something much deeper. "That...being...said. When you're done with that job, I would not stick around that man. Bad things happen to those affiliated with his..group." Bill said, spitting the last word with uncharacteristic vitriol.

I couldn't stop the nervous gulp in my throat. "Um. Yeah. Message received."

The next morning I strolled into the entrance of dock #6 at just around 9:03 and greeted my new boss. "Well, here I am. As promised."

"Glad you showed up." Korka replied as he handed off a thick envelope. "As promised."

+500,000 Beri!

I tuck the package into my coat and follow as the revolutionary wordlessly leads the way down to where all the ships are moored.

"So, hypothetically speaking," I begin. "If we were to encounter some ne'er-do-wells during this little adventure what's the split going to be for claiming the bounties?"

I couldn't see his face but I could almost physically feel my new employer roll his eyes at me. "What? Am I not paying you enough?"

"Oh no, you're paying me plenty. More than plenty." I grinned as I patted the lump in my coat protectively. "I'm just curious."

An audible breath escapes from the mans nose before answering."Well assuming we do have an encounter -which I'm hoping we don't- and then assuming we successfully capture someone worth anything AND are able to turn the body in somewhere…I won't promise any hard numbers. Cost of ship repairs comes first. But depending on how much is left over and how integral you were to the capture itself, I'll see that you get a percentage. Fair enough for you? "

I nodded my head in satisfaction. To be honest I was halfway joking with him. I didn't actually expect him to offer me more money.

"So how big's the crew?" I inquired next.

"27 hired hands, plus 11 other members of the R.A. You, me, and two of your fellow hunters makes a grand total of 42 souls. Not the largest crew in the world I'll admit, but it should be sufficient enough."

"Do those 'hired hands' know you aren't just a normal trading ship?"

His eyes briefly dart back to me before focusing up front again. "Some of them. Many don't bother to ask because they don't need to know. For them, work is work, and that's all they care about."

A few more minutes of walking and after rounding a corner my home for the next four months comes into view. 'Wow. Not bad Mr. Freedom fighter.' I think as I let out an impressed whistle. 'Not bad at all.'

The design of the ship was remarkably similar to that of a 'Dutch Fluyt' back on earth, though perhaps this one had been unscaled in size just a bit. With it's three masts and obvious focus on cargo capacity it was easily going to be the largest ship I had ever stepped onto.

The bowsprit of the ship was beautifully carved, though instead of the stereotypical mermaid or siren it instead featured sort of...angler-fish-monster...wow that is hideous. Not the design choice I would've gone with but whatever floats your boat Korka. Pun somewhat intended.

"This is The Marjhan." Korka announced, his voice laced with personal pride.

Anything I might've said dried up in my throat as I notice a group of 12 approaching us in the corner of my vision. All wearing the familiar white &blue.

The revolutionary turns to them with a smile. "Something I can help you gentleman with?"

"This your ship?" The head of the group asks in a rough grizzled voice. A dark-skinned Marine who's uniform tells me is a Warrant Officer. The highest rank achievable while still being under the umbrella of 'enlisted man'.

'Maaaaybe taking this job was a bad idea.' I realize as the mental alarm bells start ringing.

"Yes she is. Ain't she a beaut?" Korka responds without a care in the world.

"Random inspection." The Marine huffs out. "I'll need to see your ownership papers, port of origin and destination, as well as records of purchase for all major cargo in your hold."

"Ah. Of course." My employer replies in a far too chipper tone, fishing a few leaflets of paper out of his pocket. "Here you go officer."

The old Marine riffles through the sheets with a bored expression on his face, as though just being here is a chore. He gives each paper barely more than a cursory glance before cycling back to the first page and returning them to Korka's grasp with a grunt. "Alright. Seems you've got everything in order. Good luck in Briss."

"Thank you officer. Hope you have a pleasant day."

As the party turns away the alarms in my head die down but questions pop-up in their place. 'Was that really just a random inspection? Did Bill tip them off? If yes, then why didn't they...ugh just don't think about it Jack. You'll just keep falling down the mental rabbit hole.' Once the marines had moved well out of earshot I turned to Korka with a questioning brow. "Briss?"

"Briss Kingdom. Lovely place. Lots of waterfalls. You should swing by if you ever get the chance. Not where we're heading unfortunately."

"You just carry around fake paperwork all day? Why?"

The revolutionary slowly turned his head towards me and arched a single eyebrow. Wordlessly asking if I was an idiot.

'Oh. Duh.' I thought, resisting the urge to face-palm. 'There's my dumb moment of the day.'

Thankfully Korka just laughed it off after seeing my expression. "Come on. Let's get you introduced to the crew."

After boarding The Marjhan it became instantly clear that everyone was only waiting for the captain to return before making way. The moment Korka and I were aboard the sails unfurled and a group of deckhands started pulling in the mooring lines.

Watching the hustle and bustle I took a moment to scan over names and titles. 'Hmm. Most everyone seems to be Lv. 7 or lower, though there are a couple of 12's mixed in. One gal at 14 over there. Those would probably be Korka's fellow R.A. members then.'

I turn my eyes upward towards the bow and spot two extremely different men in the middle of what is either an intense argument or a very animated discussion.

Waldstein, Professional Huntsman, Lv. 37

Guilford, Revenger, Lv. 26

'Ah. It seems I have found my colleagues.'

Waldstein was a tall, olive-skinned man in his 50's with muscles that would put most strongmen to shame. Scars crisscrossed over his bare chest and a vicious burn mark had rendered one of the man's eyes useless. A large silver mallet-warhammer-thing was strapped to his back and It took me all of .2 seconds to decide that this was a man I would not want on my bad side.

Guilford could not have been more different by contrast. A slender build, slicked back ponytail, and flamboyant reddish-purple suit all reminded me of the typical anime pretty boy which now that I think about it, isn't actually all that common in the 'One Piece' universe. A matching pair of elegantly designed rapiers were resting in his belt making the mans weapon of choice pretty easy to identify. I'm fairly confident that rapiers aren't meant to be dual wielded but I'm not about to go over there and tell the guy his business.

Well.

May as well go introduce myself.

Aboard The Marjhan

My first 48 hours aboard the trading vessel have been pretty unnoteworthy. Mostly spent on reading, watching the waves, or chatting with some of the people I was sharing this 4 month journey with.

To name a few, there was Ernest and Satori, the two cooks who ran the kitchen. Claire, a young woman with flax-colored hair serving as an understudy to the ships doctor. Maken and Iraak, a duo of friendly deckhands who kept the deck clean almost religiously and Cassian, the R.A. member who I could never get to say more than 10 words to me.

My initial impression of Waldstein was completely wrong. Despite his formidable appearance, the guy was downright jolly. It was almost like a mall Santa decided to bodybuild and become a pro mercenary. It seemed like every time I entered a room with him in it the old hand was boisterously regaling someone with a story while everyone was dying in laughter.

Guilford however, I was spot on about. The guy was a snob. He didn't walk anywhere, he strutted. Everywhere he went, an atmosphere of condescension followed. The frustrating thing was...he wasn't even doing it on purpose. There was no malicious intent. This was just how he was. I would never be rude enough to say it to his face but I was glad he was the weakest of the 'big fighters' on board. If he wasn't the guy would've been insufferable.

All things considered, I'd say I was going to enjoy my time on this ship.

Some days were lazy...

"Jack! Jack! Jack! Jack!" The crowd chanted in unison.

"BWAHAHA! It's no use sonny!" Waldstein spouted with a deep belly laugh. "I haven't lost an arm wrestling contest in 16 years."

"Shut uuuuuup." I drew out as my face reddened with effort.'Come on come on come on. Just push harder! Throw me a bone here [Game]!'

[Adrenalin Rush] Activated!

STR (125 +70%) → (212.5)

My fellow bounty hunters arm slowly began to tilt back and joyful surprise flitted across the mans face. "Oh ho! Not bad for a youngster! Guess I'll have to step it up a notch!"

The barrel we were using as a table shattered into wood chips as Waldsteins arm snapped forwards and I suddenly found myself thrown flat against the floor.

Ding!

Quest Failed!

Quest: Defeat Waldstein in an arm wrestling match.

Reward: +3 STR and 250 Exp.

'Yes [Game]. I know. You don't need to rub my face in it.'

"BWAHAHA! I didn't throw you too hard did I sonny?"

"You wish old timer." I laughed off as I raised my hand. "Now help me up."

Some days were less lazy...

"Ohmygod! Calm down! Calm down! I can explain! STOP SCREAMING!"

Wouldn't you know it? That just made the poor girl scream louder.

'I am instituting a new rule for my life. Next time I decide to do an inventory of my...well [Inventory], make sure THE DOOR IS LOCKED!'

Did you know that when my arm is inside my storage dimension it looks to others like the limb is disappearing into a veil of rippling air?

Because I didn't.

I just see the screen containing all my cool shit.

The rapid thumping of footsteps approaching reverberates off the room and soon enough Korka as well as three others burst through the door. "What the bloody hell is going on in here!"

"His arm." Claire cried in a frightened voice, an accusatory finger pointed my way. "His arm was gone..and then he just ...he just pulled it out of nothing..."

My employer turned an inquisitive look my way. "Jack. What is she talking about?"

'Shit. Fuck. Umm. Crap. What was that idea I came up with a while back?' "Storage-Human." I responded dumbly.

"...come again?"

"I ate a Paramecia Fruit and became a Storage-Human." I quickly lied. "I can access a separate dimension and put all my stuff in there."

Korka hmm'd to himself and nodded once. "Ok. That's nifty. Wish you'd mentioned that when I hired you. We could've picked up some last minute cargo. We'll need to take advantage of that next time we make port."

"I'm not a pack-mule..." I try to retort even though the man's assessment is correct.

The Revolutionary chooses to ignore my token protest and turns to the girl with a comforting smile. "It's alright Claire. There's nothing to be afraid of. Is this your first time seeing a Devil-Fruit?"

The young woman gently shakes her head yes. "I thought..I thought those were supposed to be a myth?" she speaks in a frightened whisper.

"No no no. They're plenty of them around." Korka speaks soothingly before demonstrating by sprouting a beak from his face "See?"

My hands spring upwards, covering my ears as the young lass shrieked even louder than before and promptly fled from the room in terror.

Korka turned to me with a genuine look of befuddlement on his face. "Did I say something wrong?"

And some days were not lazy at all...

I struck the fuse and the cannon again roared with a thundercrack, filling the air with fire and a plume of white smoke.

"All guns! Keep Firing!" Korka bellowed from the helm as a piece of railing next to him exploded into splinters. "I'm not losing this ship to some worthless picaroon with only a five and a half million price on his head!"

"Captain! They're almost broadside!" One of the hired sailors shouted.

"Prepare grappling lines! We're taking the fight to them! HUNTERS, go earn what I'm paying you!"

I grabbed the nearest man and shoved him in front of the cannon I was manning. "Take over for me!" I ordered. "And I swear to god if you shoot me I will-" A cannonball exploded onto our position, utterly ruining the stand the culverin was mounted upon. "Tsk, never mind."

I draw one of my revolvers as I rush across to the center of The Marjhan and begin racing atop one of the lines now connecting the two ships. A balancing feat that would have been impossible without my high DEX.

Six shots ring out as my finger depresses the trigger in rapid succession but I can barely even hear them over the deafening clamor of the battle raging from both ships.

Two bullets strike a pirate center mass sending him down without so much as a scream. The third shot shatters some poor sods knee who might I say goes down with a lot of screaming. The fourth is dodged just barely, the target never knowing how close he came to having his brain matter splattered across the deck. The fifth misses entirely and the final shot blows straight through a pirates hand, taking off a finger and completely stopping him from drawing the pistol he was reaching for.

+55 Exp!

I mentally discard the notification as I approach the enemy ship. Something I long ago learned was that Exp was only awarded in battle when someone was taken completely out of the fight, either by disabling them, having them fall unconscious, or ...something more permanent.

Seeing as how I gave that nameless grunt two in the chest it's probably the latter.

'Well I shouldn't say nameless...' Everyone's titles were still hanging above their heads after all. I just elected not to read them most of the time. If I read their name, I'll start humanizing them. If I humanize them, I'll empathize with them.

For example, the man who's hand I've just destroyed is 'Raul' and judging by the fact he's Lv. 5 the guy is greener than a bundle of unripe bananas. I mean what is he even doing out here? Why would he choose to-

I shake my head clear of those distracting thoughts as my feet touch down on the wooden planks of the pirate vessel and quickly glance around to get my bearings.

Up at the helm Guilford was already engaged in solo combat with the enemy captain and over by the bow end of the ship Waldstein was sweeping goons aside three or four at a time with his steel mallet.

"I'm not late to the party am I?" I question aloud as I announce my presence with a running kick to one of the many mooks, sending him face-first into the butt of a cannon.

+40 Exp!

'Ooo that's gonna hurt in the morning.'

"Not at all!" Waldstein shouts out, the permanent smile still on his face. "How d you want to split them? You take the 10 on the left? And I'll take the 30 on the right?"

"I think your math's a little screwed up there old man." I replied with a grin as I drew a disposable sword from my [Inventory] with one hand and switched out revolvers with the other. "I think you meant 30 for me."

"Captain Pellora!" one of the enemy crew suddenly cried out.

A slight twist of my head and I watch the pirate captain fall as Guilford extracts his swords from the mans body. The first coming from Pellora's chest and the second out of his throat.

"Avenge the captain!" One mook bellowed with a raised saber.

"RROOOAAA!" his 40 or so fellows all roared in agreement.

"A race then! We'll see who gets more!" Waldstein shouted as he charged into the horde with weapon raised.

A battle-crazed laugh erupted from my throat as I zipped ahead of him "You're on!"

Finally, after close to a month at sea the shoreline of Centaurea dawned on the horizon. The first stop of many in my contract. We'd take a few days rest, unload the cargo hold, patch a few things on the ship, and then it's back onto the ocean. Thankfully though, we won't have to sail all the way back to Yeutton to restock. Korka's made some arrangements ahead of time with a port that is far closer.

As far as levels go, the journey's been about what I expected. I'd reached Lv.31 rather quickly as I was only a few hundred Exp off and 32 came just a week later from the battle against the 'Pellora Pirates'. Getting up to 33 though was an absolute slog. Most days the only Exp the [Game] felt like sending my way was in the form of a single daily quest that varied from 30- 250 Exp each time -usually on the lower end-.

All in all, three levels had given me 45 points to distribute. I never want to stop progressing on the physical front but it was about time I start shoring up the gap with the mental side of things. 5 points had gone to STR, 7 to VIT and DEX and 13 each for INT and WIS.

'[Status]'

Jack Parker, The Gamer, Lv. 33

Health: 2,300/2,300

Exp: 50/3,300

Money: 12,650,230 Beri

STR: 130

VIT: 115

DEX: 115

INT: 68

WIS: 66

LUK: 25

Points to spend: 0

Click here to see list of [Skills]

-Current number of [Skills]: 39

Click here to see list of [Perks]

-Current number of [Perks]: 3

I'm not sure whether it's INT or WIS that's causing it...but I've definitely noticed..an effect. I've been in this world for over a year. Memories, recollections, the little nitty gritty details of 'One Piece' should be slipping from me...or at least be starting to. But instead the opposite is happening.

Sure, when I first came to this world I could name the important 'arcs' of 'One Piece'. Major characters, events, fruits, all that jazz.

But I definitely didn't remember the name of Cabaji, Buggy-the-clowns 3rd in command and acrobat enthusiast. Nor could I have named Genbo, the fat cannon wielding shandian warrior in a striped chef's hat. Lulu, Haruta, Dosun, Inazuma, Domino, each and every one of them decently unimportant to the overarching 'One Piece' story and yet my remembrance of them is only getting clearer.

That's not all.

I can remember what I had for breakfast eight days ago. And every meal since.

It's not as though the information is sitting at the forefront of my mind, but if I just take a moment to try and think about it...there it is. Three eggs, toast, and a pear.

'Note to self. Get INT to 100 soon without placing any more points in WIS. Such an increase in one but not the other should illuminate which of the two is causing this. Besides, I'm overdue on a new [Perk] anyway.'

In the [Skills] department I'm happy to say that there have been some vast improvements. I gained levels in [Sailing], [Navigation], even picked up some major gains in [Carpentry] from helping out with repairs. A [Skill] that had stayed at Lv.1 ever since a completely failed attempt at building a chair back on Kivuruk. I'll likely never get up to the pure prowess of those working at Galley-La but you never know when an innocuous [Skill] like this could come in handy.

Sword lessons with Guilford brought [Bladed Weapon Mastery] up by four and [Kami-e] by two. Initially the pretty boy was pretty haughty about how- quote "superior" unquote- his sword technique was compared to mine but I know that hidden beneath all that overbearing smugness he appreciated our matches. The man may be quick with a blade but I outclassed him in basically every other category. He needed a sparring partner just as much as I did and seeing as how he's two levels higher than when we started this month I'd say we're doing something right.

Waldstein was a slightly different story. The guy was strong as hell. He knew it. I knew it. Everyone recognized him as the toughest on the boat. Problem was that when we tried having a friendly bout he just couldn't touch me. For all his incredible strength, his ridiculous vitality, the old hunters DEX was only 58. This combined with the fact that neither of us could go all out lest we damage the ship we were on...the fight basically just went nowhere for 20 minutes before we decided to call it a draw.

Finally, there was the time I convinced Korka to step into the ring with me. I knew it was a tad rude to pester him. His profile says he doesn't care for fighting and asking to go a round with your boss is somewhat a breach of decorum, even in this universe.

I was not prepared for what ensued.

I lost.

I lost quickly.

The Ostrich Fruit didn't reduce his damage intake as much as Jorgen's Zoan-Fruit did. Nor did it provide as huge an increase in STR and VIT. A moderate 45% in comparison to the lieutenant's 80. All the buffs really did was place the revolutionary's stats on the same level as my own. A stalemate I thought my [Perks] would easily overcome.

The problem was what it did for his DEX.

A 120% increase in his hybrid form. One hundred and twenty percent. His speed -which was already a tad above my own- more than doubled.

[Bullet Time] helped. [Kami-e] helped. But despite them both I barely lasted half a minute before I was pressed against a wall with a heavy talon resting softly -dangerously- flush against my throat.

Shaking my head from the memory I moved my eyes away from the island growing in the distance and towards the man who trounced me as he scowled at a Den-Den-Mushi in his hand.

"Something wrong?" I joke lightly as I slide up to the railing next to him.

Korka briefly glances my way but his furrowed brow doesn't decrease. "I've been trying to call the port base but no one's picking up. Really I've been trying to call ever since that storm threw us two days behind schedule."

"Is them not answering a bad sign?" I mean it's obviously not good but...

"Could be. Could also be any number of explanations. Maybe one of their snails got sick and spread it to all the others. Maybe they've had to secure communications for some reason. Can't do anything but speculate."

Korka sets the snail down and picks up a spyglass resting nearby. He brings it up to his eye briefly but lowers it just as quick. "Tsk, still too far away to see."

'Ahh but that is what I am here for!' "How about a better one?" I propose with a cheeky grin, pulling a full size bronze telescope and matching tripod out of my [Inventory].

The frizzy haired man jumps on my offer and not 10 seconds later is scanning the horizon with his new toy. "Well...the base seems to be fine...ooo Jack take a look here!" He spouts excitedly, moving out of the way for me.

I lower my head and squint one eye into the viewing lens. "A ship?"

"Yep. That's my Dreamwinder. First ship I ever had. She's smaller than her siblings but the extra speed that offers has gotten me out of some pretty sticky situations. I bet she beat us here by a week."

I hummed noncommittally. "What about your other one?"

"The Taniwha. This ships twin sister." Korka replies as he gently pushes me aside and retakes his position. "She travels at the same speed we do. Taking into account our late departure and the storm though, she should be here alrea-" A strangled choking noise comes from the mans throat as he backs away, his skin suddenly ashen.

Confused, I peek back into the spyglass, focus in where he was looking at and...Oh my.

'That is one fucked up ship.'

The mizzen-mast appears to be in good shape but it's just about the only sailing component that is. The main is barely standing, it's base is so damaged that a single axe chop would probably send it crashing down over the edge. The fore-mast is straight up gone and all that remains of the decorative bowsprit is the back half of what I'm guessing was once a sea-serpent.

The sails are shredded. The railings in splinters. Just from the one side I can see I count no less tan six holes in the hull near where it meets the water.

"...how is that thing still afloat?" I can't help but mutter.

The Marjhan isn't exactly in pristine condition after our encounter with the 'Pellora Pirates' but this thing is trashed. Scuttled. I am frankly dumbfounded that it somehow made it into port. It doesn't even seem possible. The only explanation that I'm willing to even entertain is that it was attacked less than day away from its arrival.

It's about an hour later when the mooring lines are tied to the dock and Korka hops off the side of the ship with myself only a few seconds behind him.

We don't need to hunt anyone down to interrogate as someone is already rushing down the pier-side to greet us. A revolutionary soldier wearing what appears to be a hippo-hat of all things.

Masaru, Anti-Government Rebel, Lv. 17

The soldier snapped off a quick salute but by his posture it was clear that it was a gesture he was unaccustomed to. "Korka -err Sir! It's excellent to see-"

"Enough with that," my employer cuts him off. "What the hell happened to my ship? And why isn't anyone picking up the damn phone!"

The lower ranked revolutionary straightens up and it's obvious from his face he has bad news he doesn't want to deliver. "Five nights ago an enemy saboteur set fire to our communications hub. We were able to save…some... of the Den-Den-Mushi's but almost all of the logs and long-range equipment has been destroyed. Thankfully there were some replacement parts you had on board the Dreamwinder, so we're at least operational again, but overall the stations been effectively crippled."

Korka scowls but doesn't voice any complaint. "...and The Taniwha? That was the ship I thought would be safest of the three. Embo was the point man on that vessel and he's one of the best bounty agents in South Blue."

"Yes sir. As the crew tells it, he's the only reason the ship managed to survive at all. The enemy was apparently...voracious. I'm sure you'll want to interview them yourself. We've started patching the most immediate concerns, but the simple truth is she's going to be stuck in port for awhile undergoing repairs. Two or three months at the least."

"Sounds like they ran into someone pretty nasty." I piped in, adding to the conversation for the first time. "Which of the big hitters was it?" I ask, pulling some wanted posters from my [Inventory]. Big names that I knew to stay the hell away from. "Hornigold? Montauban? 'Oaken Fist' Kowalik?"

"...It wasn't that fucker Eustass Kid was it?" Korka adds with a sneer.

The soldier shakes his head in the negative. "No. Crew says they didn't recognize her flag. Looks to be yet another hotshot rookie."

Korka ran a hand over his face in frustration. "Great...more bad news...as if there weren't enough problems on this sea." he groaned out in resignation. "Well do we at least have a name?"

"Yes sir! News Coo dropped it off just yesterday." Masaru replied as he produced a rolled up brown poster from a satchel on his side. "Evidently we're not the only ones she's hit. Two weeks ago she attacked a Marine frigate for the sole purpose of stealing all the food on board. She didn't even leave them the hardtack sir."

Korka unfurled the weather-beaten paper and for the first time since entering this world I caught a glimpse of someone I knew from canon.

"They're calling her 'The Glutton'."

WANTED

DEAD OR ALIVE

JEWELRY BONNEY

B: 22,500,000

Korka regarded the profile impassively for a moment before rolling it closed and handing it back. "We'll just have to be even more cautious from now on then. Nothing can be done about it right now. What's been happening in the capital? My last news is a week out of date."

For a minute or two I lingered nearby, listening in on some general updates of the war front, but as the conversation slowly devolved into logistical details about ship repairs I lost interest and silently excused myself.

I strolled sedately back onto the deck of The Marjhan with no hurry in my step and a small but worried frown on my face. Pondering over the handbill I'd just seen.

It's not that I'm concerned about potentially running into Bonney. 'Though admittedly it's a fight I want no part of. Even if it's possible she doesn't have her Devil Fruit yet.' The odds of our ship running into hers on the same stretch of sea that she nearly sank The Taniwha on is rather low. Pirates tend not to linger in one place very long, always trying to keep one step ahead of either Marine retaliation or a rival crew.

No, what's pressing on my mind is what the little brown poster represents.

Familiar names are starting to appear. Kid, Bonney, I even overheard Korka submitting a report to Lindbergh through his Den-Den-Mushi about a week ago.

The canon storyline is starting to take root in the periphery of my life...and even though I honestly want no part of it...

I'm starting to wonder just how long I'm going to last before it forcibly sucks me in.